Our medal marvel!
Redland para athlete Simran Kaur raced to the finishing line to
win a silver and bronze medal in the 100m and 200m at the World
Para Athletics Junior Championships in Switzerland. The youngest
person chosen to join the GB team for the event, Simran shares her
experience with the Bishopston Voice. Full story: Page 4

Celebrations as
teens pick up
A-levels results
AUGUST 17 was a special day for
the thousands of students from
Bishopston, Cotham and Redland
receiving their A-Level grades.
The results show a strong
performance from Bristol’s state
and private schools, with 96 per
cent of students achieving at
least three A-levels with grades
between A* and E in Bristol,
despite the new tougher final
exams.

Across the UK, the overall
pass rate has fallen slightly, and
the gender gap is closing as boys
received a larger share of A and
A* grades than girls for the first
time.
However, the top A-level
grades are up with the proportion
of A* grades rising to its highest
level (8.3 per cent) since the top
grade was introduced in 2010.
Education special: Pages 17-29

Plans for revamped Memorial Stadium
BRISTOL Rovers will look to
develop their current ground
at their Memorial Stadium in
Horfield, owner Wael al-Qadi
confirmed in early August, after
failing to agree on plans for a new
21,000 capacity stadium at the
University of West of England.
Despite many planning
disputes over the land during the
last decade, including a lengthy
high court battle with Sainsbury’s
after it pulled out of a deal to
build a supermarket on the
land, there is support locally for
a sensitive development of the

ground, which is similar in size to
Everton’s stadium.
The club was purchased by
Jordanian Football Association
member Al-Qadi's family in
February 2016, shortly before the
club won promotion to the third
tier of English football.
Wael Al-Qadi has declared
that he’s keen to include a
safe standing area as part of a
revamped Memorial Stadium.
The UWE proposal would have
involved the sale of the Memorial
Stadium, where Rovers have
played since 1996 but Al-Qadi

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says that redevelopment was
always an alternative if the club
failed to agree terms with UWE.
Campaigner Jamie Carstairs
raeacted to the decision by asking
what a fitting and proportionate
redevelopment would be and
emphasising the importance of
creative solutions to match day
transport and parking issues. He
called for constructive dialogue
to help bring about a successful
planning application.
Jamie said: “Friends of the
Memorial Ground (FOMG)
broadly welcome the recent

proposal to rebuild Bristol’s
famous sports ground.
“It is heartening that a
revitalisation of this very special
war memorial sports ground
will herald its centenary in 2021,
granting a new lease of sporting
life for the coming decades.
“The Memorial Stadium
is embedded in the local
community: around it are
people’s homes and gardens;
nearby pubs, cafes and food
outlets sustain visiting football
fans. The sports ground
gives character and historical

Your views
Letters for publication can be sent to the above email addresses or by post
to Letters, Bishopston Voice, 16 Chandag Road, Keynsham, Bristol BS31
1NR. The editor reserves the right to edit your letter.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Bishopston Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for
content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant
legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of
the editor. Bishopston Voice is distributed each month to Bishopston residents. If for some
reason you do not get a copy, please collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is always
welcomed, contact Emma Cooper on 0117 908 2121 or emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.
This month 11,250 copies will be distributed around Bishopston, Redland and St Andrews.

Electrician
www.alliedelectrical.co.uk

Do you find it difficult to get someone to come and do a small job?
●
●
●
●

n NEWS
valid concerns of local people.
“Avoiding these mistakes
is possible through genuine
consultation with neighbours
and nearby residents, as
well as with Rovers fans,
community groups (including
The Bishopston Society), local
councillors, and the council.
“Bristol Rugby former players
and FOMG would support
landscaping improvements
around the listed entrance

gates and their professional
restoration.
"Dwane Sports Limited, being
the owners of the gates, could
apply for a grant for this work
(http://www.warmemorials.org/
grants/).
“The revamped sport ground
could once again proudly be
Bristol’s great war memorial,
actively honouring the war dead
through sport, as intended by its
founders.”

Bristol Rovers have played at the stadium since 1996

significance to the residential
area. Dwane Sports Limited now
have the opportunity to enhance
the site’s huge potential, and its
Bristol Rugby heritage, and make

it Rovers’ own – for football.
“Previous redevelopment
proposals have foundered for
not respecting the war memorial
status of the site and ignoring the

Para-athlete Simran Kaur wins silver and
bronze at Junior World Championships
RUNNER Simran Kaur enjoyed
great success in her first
experience of global competition
at the World Para Athletics
Junior Championships in
Nottwil, Switzerland.
Simran, a 14-year-old pupil at
Redland Green School, competed
in the 100m and 200m sprints in
the T46* category (arm amputee
or impairment). She was the
youngest person chosen to join
the GB para-athletics team at the
championships which took place
on August 3-6.
Finishing just over a tenth
of second behind the winner,
Beatriz Hatz of the USA, Simran
took silver in the 100 metres in
the T42 to T47 category clocking
13.58 seconds. In the 200 metres
she took bronze in 28.83 seconds
for a personal best at 200 metres.
Simran said: “It did feel
amazing and emotional standing

on the podium. I felt ‘wow’! And
to have family there supporting
me made it even better.”
Proud father Raj Singh added:
“We were all in Switzerland,

live happy!
with

Slimming World

including her brother and all
the extended family. We had
a special mention from the
commentator about all the noise
we were making.
“He said: ‘Simran Kaur, her
family are here, I’ve seen them,
and I can certainly hear them!’ ”
Now Simran’s back she’s
had some time off to recover
from a knee injury before taking
part in the final race of the
season at the School Games in
Loughborough on September 1.
She’ll then begin winter training
with the aim of qualifying for
the Commonwealth Games and
European Championships.
“When I came back from the
Worlds the first thing I said to
my coach was that I’d like to do
that again,” said Simran.
“It was just such a great
experience to go out by yourself
there with a bunch of people that

I’d never met but who all had a
disability.
“I’ve made some really good
friends with athletes from
Germany, Australia and the USA
too.”
Simran has always been a
sporty child. She’s played for the
super-successful Westbury Park
Foxes Girls Football team which
won all their games last season
to become Bristol Girls League
under 14 Champions 2016-17.
But, to avoid any risk of future
ankle or knee injury she is going
to concentrate her sporting
efforts on athletics now.
The 100m is her preferred
event but she set a personal best
in the 200m at the Juniors. To
improve she needs to work on
her balance as she sometimes
leans to one side when she runs.
Simran explained: “I have
to work harder on my core to

stay up straight and to make me
balance.
“I get less of a pump when I
push my arm than someone with
two. Eighteen per cent of speed
comes from your arms so I have
to overcompensate on the other
side.”
The Limb Power games at
Stoke Mandeville first sparked
Simran’s interest in athletics.
The event is for anyone who’s
lost a limb to try out a number
of sports, including seated
volleyball, wheelchair basketball,

and archery. She was spotted by
the British Athletics coaches on
the athletics track and told that
with the right training she could
go far.
Mum Gita Sawhney said: “It’s
all happened very quickly. We
always knew that she was a fast
runner and she’s definitely got
the ability to keep going.
“The world record holder
in Simran’s category has a very
similar arm disability, so it can
be overcome with training.
“We now need to start saving

for all the competitions that she
might qualify for. The World
Games is on the Gold Coast and
the Paralympics is in Tokyo.”
The family are also keen to
find some help with sponsorship,
to help with the cost of training,
attending local competitions
and overnight stays. SportsAid
have a scheme where individuals
can be sponsored by partners to
build a lasting relationship with a
promising athlete.
Nick Harris, UK Athletics
trainer for Bristol & West
Athletics Club and Simran’s
trainer said: “Well done to
Simran – a great start to her
career as an International Para
Athlete.
“I am so proud of all our
international athletes and look
forward to helping them become
the next generation of Bristol’s
sporting stars.”
Before the para team set out
they met up for a training event
with Bristol Mayor, Marvin
Rees who said: “As part of our
work as European City of Sport
we want to start recognising
Bristol’s own local sporting
talent. We want to take a stand
on this issue to improve our offer
as a global sporting city.
“These amazing young
people are the future of Bristol’s
sporting ambition. "
“It’s been a pleasure to meet
these inspiring youngsters and
watch them get in shape for the
world class competition.
“I hope they and their stories
will prove to be inspiration to
Bristolians of all ages to get out
and try something new.”

Butchers of
Southville

Whether you
are planning
an exquisite
meal for a
dinner party, or
a wholesome
family lunch,
come to us

Then why not sign up for one of our tennis
or squash group coaching sessions
Beginners and Intermediate Courses
Members ÂŁ39: Non-members ÂŁ48
No experience necessary
All levels catered for

If you are interested in joining a session, please telephone the club on
0117 9731139 for further details and to register
Terms and conditions apply: courses dependent on a minimum of 6 participants per
group and joining fee will only be waived for coaching course participants

Redland Green
Bristol BS6 7HF
0117 973 1139
redlandgreen.co.uk

September, 2017

n NEWS
ELEVEN years after the team at
Golden Hill Sports Ground first
set up the annual Party in the
Park (PITP), this year’s event
means that they are set to make
a final repayment on the ground
purchase loan of the community
owned YMCA field.
One of the organisers, Chris
Drew said: “Everyone at Golden
Hill Sports would like to say a
big thank to all those people that
have come along and supported
PITP over the years and making
it such a success. We would like
to invite them all back again this
year along with anyone who has
never been before.”
This year’s event promises
a whole host of fun for all the
family on Saturday 16 September
from 1pm, finishing with a
firework display at 8pm.
During the day there will be
Tethered Hot Air Balloon ride
(weather permitting), Gryoscope
(a ride for 4 people), Neuron
Racer, Tractor Rides and a
Demolition Zone - a chance to
Bash the Car!
It’s a chance to test your
skills at Crazy Golf, a Zombie
Shootout, Sports Zone and a
Flight Simulator.
Some great local acts
will be performing on stage,
plus displays from Japanese

bishopstonvoice

7

Hurrah for Party in the Park

Drummers, Tae Kwon-do,
marching band and many, many
more.
Visitors to the event can relax
away the cares of the day with
drinks from the licensed bar and
enjoy the tasty bites from the
food village on site.
PITP first started in 2007
and was created by the Golden
Hill committee as a way of both
raising money to repay the loan
taken out to purchase the ground
and giving something back to
the community who helped the
registered charity (Golden Hill
Sports) acquire these valuable

Claudia Fragapane
champions Bristol charity
OLYMPIAN, Commonwealth champion
and former Strictly Come Dancing
contestant, Claudia Fragapane, has
been announced as a Charity Champion
for Above & Beyond, Bristol Hospital’s
charity.
Each year Above & Beyond raises £3m
for projects that make a real difference to
the care and experience of over 800,000
patients and the 9,000 hospital staff at all
nine city centre hospital sites.
Fragapane, who trains at Bristol
Hawks Gymnastics, will work with the
charity to help raise awareness about
fundraising events and the difference
donations to a local charity can make.
On a recent visit, Claudia met some of the charity’s volunteers
and saw the difference donations have already made in the hospitals,
from funding state-of-the-art equipment in Bristol Royal Hospital for
Children to funding groundbreaking research in Bristol Haematology
and Oncology Centre.
She said: “I’m so excited to be working with Above & Beyond as
a charity champion. It means a lot to me to work with a charity that
supports a cause in my hometown of Bristol, where I live and train.
“As a gymnast, I know how important it is to stay fit and healthy – a
small injury could mean the end of my career – and I wanted to help
raise awareness about the need to provide our hospitals with things
above and beyond what the NHS has the means to do.”

playing fields.
PITP has raised well over
£80,000 in the 10 events held so
far with close to £15,000 being
raised at PITP 2016 alone when
over 4,200 people attended
during the course of the day.
Chris Drew said: “Our
slogan for PITP is "Bringing
the community together" and
we truly believe that this event
does just that. It’s a great event
with a variety of stalls and

entertainment on offer for all
the family. We print 10,000
programmes that are hand
delivered to homes in the local
area and thousands of people
come along and enjoy the day
which is open to everyone.
“We are so grateful for our
PITP organising team, many of
which have been with us since
the start and give up countless
hours to make this event the
success it is.
“The funds from all future
events will now be put towards
the next project - the renovation
and re-development of the
pavilion.”
All funds from PITP go to
the registered charity ‘Golden
Hill Sports’ who’s charitable
objectives are the protection
and well being of the sports
field & provision of sport for the
membership which is open to
everyone.
For more details on the event
a visit www.goldenhillsports.com
or their facebook page.

Bowls Club prepares for major refurb
AS the summer season draws to
a close, the historic St Andrews
Bowling Club is preparing for a
six-month refurbishment.
The club, just off Derby Road,
received a £50,000 grant from
Cory Environmental Trust in
Britain (CETB) to help fund the
improvements.
Mogford Prescott, from
Westbury-On-Trym, has been
chosen to carry out the revamp.
Glen Wintle, project manager
and club member, said: "Time
has flown by since the initial
application stage and preapplication to CETB in October
2016. We are looking forward to
working with CETB and Mogford
Prescott in transforming the club
for our members and community
group users.
"We will be publishing regular
updates throughout the project

on our website and social media
pages."
Angela Haymonds, CETB
trust secretary, said: "The CETB
trustees are delighted to have
been able to offer funding for
the much-needed improvement

works at the club.
“These will help to create
a much safer environment for
members of the Bowling Club as
well as the local community. We
hope the refurbishment works
will create a fantastic social space

for users, and can't wait to see
the finished results."
CETB funding is available
for a range of projects that bring
benefit to local communities.
This may include refurbishment
of churches or buildings of
architectural or historical
significance, or general amenity
projects, such as improving
disabled access or improvements
to parks and nature reserves.
Bristol St Andrews Bowling
Club is located just over five
miles from CEL’s Shortwood
Quarry Landfill Site. For more
information, or to see if your
project would qualify for
funding, visit www.cetb.org.uk.
For updates on the Bristol
St Andrews Bowling Club
refurbishments visit www.
facebook.com/bristolstandrews
or www.twitter.com/bristolstabc.

News? Email: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk
NOW OPEN 7 DAYS!

Pop in to our new, supersized showroom on the A4
near Keynsham. Rayburn range cookers, outdoor
fires, gas fires and one of the largest displays
of wood burners in the South West.

Redland
parking
curbs are
extended
THE new residents’ parking
zone extension went live in
Redland on August 14. It’s bee n
implemented on the roads either
side of Redland Road, including
Canowie Road, St Oswald’s Road
and Manor Park.
A permit system for users of
the local allotments has also been
created, to allow members from
outside the zone to use parking
places too.
Redland councillors Fi Hance
and Martin Fodor commented:
“We shall keep a close watch on
everything until it settles down
and do get in touch if there are
teething problems or issues that
you can’t get answers to from the
council. Please note that changes
cannot now be made to markings

Residents' parking: Where have all the cars gone now?
covered by the formally adopted
road traffic regulation orders.”
However, there are still
problems over parking in the
streets near the residents parking
areas, due to commuter parking
moving to the roads nearby,
causing fresh obstruction.
Fi Hance added: “We're still
pressing the Mayor to make clear
how new areas where people
want obstructive parking to be
managed can be created.
“This was subject to a

question Martin put to the Mayor
in July, and he's following up
with a request to meet the new
Cabinet member for transport to
get clear the basis for testing how
much support is needed for any
new project to be started.
“This was meant to be
developed in March but the
Cabinet was reshuffled then
and the Mayor took on the issue
himself for a while.
“More recently a meeting
of a group of residents on both

sides of Gloucester Rd (in St.
Andrews and Bishopston) took
place where similar problems
caused by commuters and retail
pressures were discussed.
“Councillors from both
Ashley and Redland wards
are supporting residents so
that they can demonstrate the
problems and get action to create
solutions. Do let us know if you’d
like to be put in touch with other
residents, as working together is
a key to getting action.”

Thangam
Debbonaire
column
ONE of the things I’m most proud
about as your representative in
Parliament is how strongly you
feel about the environment. One
of my jobs as Opposition Whip for
the Shadow Environment team is
to help challenge the government

QUALITY
KITCHEN
FACELIFTS

bishopstonvoice

September, 2017

Plight of the bumblebee
to honour international
agreements on climate change
and environmental protections.
I’m regularly inspired by your
questions, your campaigning, your
activism. Many of you have written
to me, for example, about your
concerns about climate change,
about species decline, or about air
pollution, and you often link the
different problems with solutions
which could help with all of them.
Here are two ways I’m working to
do my bit!
Many of you have urged me to
do as much as possible to protect
bumblebees, as the populations
of most species are declining
dramatically. I’m proud to say I’ve
now become the species champion
for the Shrill Carder Bee (Bombus
Sylvarum), working closely with the
Bumblebee Conservation Trust and
other wildlife organisations. The
Shrill Carder Bee was common a
century ago throughout the UK but
it’s now confined to just a few areas
in the South West, South Wales and

the South East and risks becoming
extinct.
Bumblebees are great
pollinators and have a key role in
producing much of our food; they
also pollinate wildflowers that are
the basis of complex food chains,
feeding other wildlife. Declining
populations will therefore affect
our ability to grow crops, and
generally undermine our whole
ecosystem. So, expect to hear a lot
about the Shrill Carder Bee from
me over the coming years! You
can find out more about the work
of the Bumblebee Conservation
Trust on their website: www.
bumblebeeconservation.org
We also need to produce clean
energy to start combating climate

change. We have considerable
expertise in this area right here in
Bristol. I’ve recently met with local
firms who are doing pioneering
work to help harness tidal energy.
And I’ve visited a test tidal turbine
complex at Den Oever in the
Netherlands to find out how
the technology works and what
challenges the industry faces.
Our region has considerable
potential to develop this green
technology. The Severn Barrage
and Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon
are two ideas that could provide
a clean alternative in our energy
supply. But they would need
investment and government
support to make tidal energy a
viable source of power, and to care
for the delicate ecosystems where
they would be built.
I’ll continue to stand up for our
environment in Parliament, and I
hope you’ll continue sending me
your questions and your ideas to
help me do that. Photo courtesy of
Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

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n NEWS
SOUTHMEAD Hospital Charity
has funded new drug boxes to
help parents of babies in neonatal intensive care prepare for
their discharge home.
The pin-controlled secure
boxes are wall-mounted next
to each baby’s cot, which
allows medicines to be safely
stored so parents can access
the medication to learn how to
administer the drugs themselves
to their babies.
Two weeks before discharge
parents will be shown how to use
the medications that their baby
needs and will be expected to
prepare and administer them so
that they are used to doing this
unaided before they go home.
Until now parents are shown
how to use medications on the
day they leave hospital, which
can add to the anxiety and fear
that many parents feel when
taking their babies home for the
first time after a long spell in
NICU - often many months.
It is hoped that by allowing
parents a longer time to get used
to drug routines and giving them
a sense of ownership it will make
the transition from hospital to

Matron, said: “Enabling
parents to learn how to draw up
medications well in advance of
going home will give them the
confidence to do it themselves,
by doing this we are working
towards a family integrated care
approach where parents do as

much as possible for their babies
in preparation for going home.”
Lisa Ramsey, NICU lead
nurse for developmental care,
said: “When we visit parents at
home they have told us that they
find checking the drugs on those
first few days quite stressful
because they are on their own
for the first time. We’re pleased
we’ve come up with a solution.”
Southmead Hospital Charity
provided £1,000 for the drugs
boxes and the scheme will start
in September.
Elizabeth Bond, head of
fundraising for Southmead
Hospital Charity, said: “This is
a brilliant example of a team
listening to the people they care
for and coming up with a solution
that makes their journey a little
bit easier."
If you’d like to fundraise visit
www.southmeadhospitalcharity.
org.uk/events

The heart of yoga in Bristol

0117 924 3330

Classes at Yogawest run every day for
all levels of ability and experience.
FULL TIMETABLE RESUMES: Sept 2nd
LEARN THE BASICS: 5-week foundation courses start
on Sept 12th/Sept 20th
COURSES (Children/Teens etc) restart w/c Sept 4th

www.yogawest.co.uk

Find us just off the Gloucester Road, along from
Bishopston Hardware. See our full timetable online.
Denmark Place, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8NW

Top line-up for the
Chandos Road Festival
THE Chandos Road Festival, now
in its fourth year, has become a
firm favourite on the local festival
scene.
The standard of the acts
it attracts to its main stage sponsored this year by ‘Bristol
Property Centre’, the University
of Bristol and UWE - sets this
free event apart from other street
parties in the area.
The festival returns on Sunday
24 September with a terrific local
band headlining at 6pm - Gee
Baby I Love You - this is a gig you
shouldn’t miss!
The rest of the afternoon’s
superb line up includes The Open
Secrets, Lost Eleven Gypsy’s Kiss,
Kevin Figes Quartet, Ponchartain
and The Harrisons Trio. Visitors
can expect an amazing, feel-good
afternoon, along with tasty food,
good drinks, interesting stalls
and community information.
The Lord Mayor of Bristol

will open proceedings at noon
and then it all starts on the main
stage at the corner of Lansdown
Road and Chandos Road. It’s
free to attend and goes on all
afternoon.
Ashley Day, director of
Bristol Property Centre, said:
“Last year, this free festival
attracted hundreds of local,
and not so local, people during
the afternoon, generating very
positive feedback from everyone
who attended. With no charge to
attend, it seems like a no-brainer
to get yourself along.”

BRISTOL City Council has been
given additional funding to target
criminal landlords and help
protect tenants in Redland and
Cotham and across the city.
The Home Office has given
the council £321,750 from the
Controlling Migration Fund to
help drive up standards in the
private rented sector over the next
two years.
Migrants are over-represented
in the private rented sector in
Bristol, particularly in properties
in poor condition.
The council now plans to
use the government funding
to conduct intelligence work
to identify and target rogue
landlords in the city, and to
take enforcement action where
necessary.
The council investigates
unsafe houses and flats every day,
but usually it relies upon tenants
reporting poor conditions.
The council is now actively
encouraging tenants to come
forward if they have concerns

about the conditions of their
rented properties, which they
have not been able to resolve with
their landlord.
Councillor Paul Smith, Cabinet
Member for Homes, said: “Across
the city people are finding it
increasingly difficult to access
decent, affordable homes.
“In Bristol we are working
hard to tackle criminal landlords
and through this extra funding,
we expect to see a reduction in
the number of these criminal
landlords letting out poor quality
accommodation and exploiting
tenants.”
The officers will work to
identify properties where there
are likely to be high levels of
exploitation and trafficking and
carry out proactive inspections
of these premises, using powers
of entry to gain access to all
dwellings.
To report a landlord or rented
property, call in confidence: 0117
352 5010 during office hours.

n NEWS
BRISTOL welcomed two Drag
Queen Story Time events in
August at Bishopston and
Bishopsworth libraries.
Parents and children were
invited to two different session to
listen to the stories being read in
a way they may not have seen or
heard before.
Bristol is believed to be the
first city in the UK to host a Drag
Queen Story Time in a library
and is hoped that this could
become a more regular event
in the city’s libraries during the
holidays.
The inventor of the story
time, Tom Canham, was inspired
by Drag Queen Story Hour,
which is a similar programme
which originated in San
Francisco, America.
The aim of the programme is
to teach children from an early
age the importance of selfacceptance.
Tom said: “Drag queens and
children don’t usually encounter
each other, which we believe is
a shame and one of the many
reasons why we host this event,
which has so far been really
well received. We believe it is
fundamental that children are
taught the value of accepting

13

Bishopston Library hosts
Drag Queen Story Time
themselves and others and this
is a useful way of introducing
children to people who may be
different to them.”
Drag Queen Story Time
is designed to engage young
children with the joys of reading
with theatrical recitals of
children’s favourite books.
Cllr Asher Craig, Deputy
Mayor and cabinet member for
communities, including libraries
and equalities said: “Bristol
is a Learning City and also an
inclusive city. The idea of drag
queens engaging with children
in an educational manner is very
beneficial as it teaches them
about accepting themselves and
others, which is essential in this
day and age.
“We know that good reading
skills can help set children up
for life and reduce inequalities
so this event was designed to
be a fun learning activity for
the summer holiday. I hope

that it will play some part
in encouraging children to
continuing reading outside of
school."
A parent who attended one
of the events, said: “It was

something a bit different and
the children were all so engaged.
We loved how flamboyant it was
and it was also great to have
something that worked so well
for children of different ages.”

Redland May Fair raises more than £1,500
THE Redland May Fair is a
free, not-for-profit community
event, organised by the Redland
& Cotham Amenities Society
each year.
Abigail Shepherd said:
“Overall it was a lovely day
(particularly given last year’s
drenching) and the bucket
collection came to £1,543.27
which, plus Gift Aid will be
given to this year's nominated

charity, Caring in Bristol – a
small, local charity which helps
homeless and vulnerable people
in Bristol.”
The Ambling Band got
things started at 1pm on
Redland Green and the May
Fair was soon busy with fairgoers coming to explore the
stalls, meet friends and enjoy
everything the May Fair has to
offer.

In the main arena there
was Morris dancing from Rag
Morris dancers complete with
hankies, bells and a hobby
horse, and maypole dancing by
pupils from the Steiner School.
There were fun-fuelled games
for kids, including the team
from Sharky & George, and Mr
Brown's Pig's puppet show, Fez
the Jester and storytelling with
Cassandra.

The church halls, bowling
club and tennis club were kept
busy providing refreshments
and a chance for fair-goers
to recharge before Bristol
Samba performed, drawing an
appreciative audience to watch
their dancing and drumming.
Abigail added: “We’re grateful
to all the volunteers who make
the fair possible and we can
never have too many.”

n NEWS
CONFETTI and bunting were the
order of the day at the Ardagh
Bowling and Sports Club when
Bryony Enright and Darren
Roberts tied the knot at the
community venue at the heart of
Horfield Common on Saturday
August 19.
The couple, who met at
university in 2009, wanted
their special day to be as close
to home as possible and found
somewhere virtually on their
doorstep.
Darren is from a large family,
the 10th of 12 children, who grew
up on Logan Road.
He said: “We asked how local
could we make our wedding?
“You can see the trees on the
Common from our front door on
Beloe Road and it meant things
were nearby and we could relax
on the day.”
Bryony added: “We wanted
an informal wedding and one
that was not too traditional.
“The Ardagh is low key and
has a real charm and we could
really imagine it as a wedding
venue. It’s really pretty with the
lawns outside.
“The Common, cafe, and
Ardagh make this area what it is,
and we love it!”
Kay Thomson, manager of
the Ardagh, is used to catering
for the bowls team and informal
events but was delighted to be of
help when the couple approached
her about using the location for
their wedding celebrations.
Kay said: “It is an honour
for the Ardagh Bowling Club
to be the venue chosen for the
wedding blessing. A lovely
building set in a beautiful part of
Horfield Common close to home
for Briony and Darren.
“The bowls club ensured that
the day went smoothly and was
enjoyed by all.”

bishopstonvoice

September, 2017

Ardagh hosts its first wedding

One big happy family at the wedding of Darren Roberts aand Bryony
Enright, right, at The Ardagh on Horfield Common, below left
The Ardagh isn’t licensed as
a wedding venue so the couple
married formally at Corn Street
the day before and Humanist
celebrant, Karen Partridge,
carried out a special ceremony
on the Saturday in front of
Bryony and Darren’s friends and
family.
Not surprisingly, Darren’s
immediate family took up 54 of
the invited guests! He is the last
in the family to get married and
has 27 nieces and nephews.
A UK wedding doesn’t come
cheap these days - with £27,000
the average cost last year. Bristol
University careers adviser
Bryony and Bristol Museum
researcher Darren were keen to
make the most of their budget

but to design the wedding in
their own informal style.
“We wanted to put together
the wedding as cheaply as
possible - our budget all in was
£4,000. My dress was from
ASOS and we borrowed bunting
from friends and picnic blankets
from the University to give it a
village fete feel. There were lots
of fun and games, with quoits
and bubbles for the children.
“Keen to save money, we
entered a competition to have
a Yeo Valley ice-cream bike at
the wedding and won!” added
Bryony.
Lots of their friends have
been involved, from making the
cake (Lovely Cakes by Laura on
Facebook) to helping decorate

the venue. They couple made a
pagoda for the end of the aisle
by wrapping white lace around a
structure.
Much of the budget was spent
on the food which came locally
too, from pizza company, Pizza
Rova who made the pizzas onsite
from their Land Rover.
Darren added: “Nothing
is from the ‘official’ wedding
organisers - we avoided anything
that said ‘wedding’ on it. Our
photographers, Lucas Cookson
and Luke Mundy, are both just
starting out in the wedding
photography business and trying
to build a name for themselves."
"The day was everything we
hoped for and more. Seeing all
our friends and family in one
place all wishing us well was
so heartwarming, the perfect
start to our marriage. We're
so grateful to everyone who
helped make the day what it
was, and now we're ready for
our honeymoon - Italy, here we
come!"

n NEWS
A BRISTOL-based partnership
has launched an innovative series
of short films in six different
languages giving information
about dementia and relevant
support services in the city.
The Dementia Wellbeing
Service, a partnership between
Alzheimer’s Society and
Devon Partnership NHS Trust,
commissioned the six short films
- in Urdu, Punjabi, Cantonese,
Somali, Polish and Englishlanguage - to address the stigma,
misunderstanding and lack of
accurate information currently
available for the culturally
diverse communities across the
city.
Community Development
Co-ordinator for the Dementia
Wellbeing Service and the films'
producer Trish Caverly says:
“The latest census says there are
6,907 people of Black African
people living in the Bristol West
constituency.
“Alongside other BME
communities, Somali has no
word for dementia. This can
make it even more difficult
for family members to discuss
a dementia diagnosis and
contribute to a stigma in many of
these communities.”
A dementia All Party
Parliamentary report in 2013
suggested that nationally
people from BME communities
are under-represented in
dementia services; they are often
diagnosed at a later stage of the
illness or not at all. A recent
research report, overseen by
the University of the West of
England, shows Bristol reflects
the national picture with nearly
half of all people with dementia
from black and minority ethnic
(BME) communities in Bristol
not accessing the services
available to them.

15

Foreign-language films about
dementia welcomed in city

Research conducted
by Alzheimer’s Society has
concluded that this can lead to a
far greater risk of late diagnosis
and not being prescribed
appropriate medication and
medical interventions for
dementia.
Mrs Kwan, who is originally
from China, has lived in Bristol
with her husband for 45 years
and raised their family here. She
is now carer to her husband, who
has dementia.
“Life changes significantly
for someone with dementia, and
for their carer and family too. It’s
really important to get help. In
our community, a lot of people
don’t know what dementia is,
we don’t even have a word for it.
This means that lots of people
with the disease run the risk of
being forgotten,” she said.
There are an estimated
25,000 BME people with
dementia in the UK. While the
number of white, British people
with dementia is expected to
double by 2051, the numbers of
people from BME communities

is expected to increase sevenfold
within the same timeframe.
Trish Caverly explains: “At
the Dementia Wellbeing Service
we work closely with people with
dementia and their carers to
support them to lead as full a life
as possible, offering therapeutic
and clinical interventions as
well as signposting them to
information about groups,
activities and support available
to them.
“During community
consultations one common
finding was the lack of culturally
appropriate, accessible
information about dementia and
the support available, for people
for whom English is not their
first language.
“In many of the communities
that we work with, we’ve found
that there is a lack of knowledge
about what dementia is. This is
backed up by recent research
overseen by the University of
the West of England which has
found that many people fail to
understand that dementia is
a health condition. It’s often

thought of as a ‘normal’ part
of ageing, and for many there
is stigma attached. This stops
people from seeking out the help
available to them. We know that
language barriers can compound
this situation, which is why it was
vital to make this series of short
films.”
Within each of the films,
medical experts, people affected
by dementia and members of the
relevant communities explain
what dementia is, outline how
people can gain a diagnosis and
access the free support available
from the Dementia Wellbeing
Service..
Khadra Abdi, who cares for
her mother with dementia and is
active in the Somali community
in Bristol, says: “Many older
people within our community
have limited English language,
and when they don’t understand
what dementia is it can be very
scary.
“These films explain about
the disease and the help available
in a simple, clear way, and most
importantly in their native
language, making it far easier
for them to gain a genuine
understanding of dementia, get
a diagnosis from their GP and to
get support from the Dementia
Wellbeing Service”.
The films are available
to view via the Dementia
Wellbeing Service website www.
bristoldementiawellbeing.org
and limited DVDs can be ordered
from via the Dementia Wellbeing
Service Access Line 0117 904
5151.

Cotham Park Rugby Club
Founded in Cotham in 1901
and now playing in Beggar Bush Lane.
We are recruiting both boys and girls
for their Years 6 and 7 squads.
Everyone gets a game in a friendly and
inclusive atmosphere with the emphasis
on enjoyment
Register at

Looking for an exceptional local school?
Look no further as we celebrate a significant rise in overall
results from last year!
Open Evening: Thursday 21st September, 6-9pm
Open Mornings: Thursday 5th October, Friday 6th October,
Tuesday 10th October and Wednesday 11th October, 9.15-10.30am

Beyond academic learning, the children at
Fairfield learn and display wonderful social
skills, tolerance, acceptance of diversity
and camaraderie. They look out for one
another. The school has a lovely energy
- Parent
www.fairfield.bristol.sch.uk

September, 2017

bishopstonvoice

Education
Special

17

Another year of excellent A-level and BTEC
results for North Bristol Post 16 Centre
STUDENTS from the North
Bristol Post 16 Centre celebrated
a 99 per cent pass rate for their
A-levels and BTEC exams.
Staff at the sixth form, where
pupils are taught at both Cotham
and Redland Green learning
communities, were delighted and
offered “congratulations to all
our students on another set of
outstanding results.”
Marian Curran, director of
the North Bristol Post 16 Centre,
commented: “Our students
have achieved exceptionally
well in a reformed A-level
landscape. We have enjoyed
scenes of elation and happiness
as students received their
results. We are very pleased to
see the percentage of students
achieving the highest grades has
increased this year and is above
the national average; we are
especially pleased with our 99
per cent pass rate.
“We are particularly proud of
our students who have overcome
personal adversity to achieve
great success. Their hard work,
commitment and determination
has paid off and the vast majority
of students have gained places at
their first choice university.
"I am proud and humbled

by our students’ achievements
and also delighted for their
parents who’ve supported them
throughout their Post 16 journey
and staff at the centre who have
worked tirelessly to make these
achievements a reality. I would
like to thank all the students,
parents and teachers at both
learning communities for their
hard work and dedication
over the past two years. We
support a very broad range of
students, including those with
modest starting points, making
these outcomes all the more
impressive.”
In over 26 subjects there was
a 100 per cent pass rate, with
42 students achieving A*-As in
three or more of their A-levels.
Five students will be taking up
offers of places at Oxford and
Cambridge and six students,
some of whom are from partner
schools, will begin courses
in medicine, dentistry and
veterinary science.
A large proportion of
students have successfully
secured Russell Group university
places and the school has been
particularly pleased this year
with the number of students
who have secured places on

competitive vocational degree
courses such as midwifery,
as well as higher-level
apprenticeships.
Students were also highly
successful in their BTEC courses;
over three quarters of grades
equivalent to C or above at
A-level.

Supported

Marian Curran added: “These
results demonstrate that the
centre is continuously providing
high quality education, especially
in a reformed A-level and BTEC
landscape to all students in the
wider Bristol area and more
importantly that students feel
challenged and supported to
achieve their very best. We are
particularly pleased that students
from partner schools (Fairfield,
Henbury, Orchard School and
Oasis Brightstowe) have done so
well this year.”
In further maths,
mathematics, chemistry, classic
civilisation, ancient history,
English Literature, English, fine
art, French, German and Spanish
results were outstanding with
over 65 per cent of students
gaining A*-B grades.
Mathematics and science

represent half of all entries. The
results in these subjects were
a real strength of the centre,
reflecting the specialisms of the
two schools.
Sarah Baker, headteacher
of Redland Green School, said:
“It is excellent to see how our
students thrive in our Post 16
partnership. It clearly offers
excellent teaching and provides
a wider choice and greater
flexibility of courses than would
be possible if we delivered on our
own.”
Jo Butler, headteacher of
Cotham School, said: “Working
together means staff share
resources and expertise. Every
student can experience great
teaching here. This is leading to
consistently strong outcomes and
constantly improving standards
for the Centre's students.
North Bristol Post 16 Centre
will have over 850 students
next year, at the comprehensive
sixth form. Students attending
Cotham, Fairfield, Henbury,
Orchard School and Redland
Green are guaranteed places
however, applications from the
wider Bristol area are welcome.
For further information see
the website www.nbp16c.org.uk

Preparatory School (Nursery to Year 8) - Saturday 23rd September
Upper School (Year 9 to Year 13) - Saturday 7th October
Sixth Form Open Evening (Year 12 Entry) - Wednesday 11th October

0117 405 8417 | cliftoncollege.com

bishopstonvoice

September, 2017

19

n EDUCATION

A great day for
Colston's Girls

COLSTON’S Girls’ School
is celebrating a fantastic
set of A level results with
many exceptional individual
performances.
Three CGS students who all
achieved perfect A/A* grades will
be studying at Exeter University:
Emma Hilton (A*A*A*A) will
read Mathematics; Ellis Deeny
(A*A*A and A in the Extended
Project Qualification) will read
Liberal Arts with study abroad;
whilst Emily Craner (A*A*A) will
read English.
They praised the help they
had been given at CGS. Ellis
said: “CGS has always been a
school that I have loved and the
teachers will never be forgotten.”
Emma added: “Having been
here since Year 7 I have known
some of my teachers for years
and they have all been really
supportive and have helped me
to achieve my best.”
Almost one quarter of all
results were A/A*, 58% were A*B, 79% A*-C and 96% A*-D.
Head of Sixth Form, Kerry
McCullagh, said: “I am so
delighted with this outstanding
set of results. The hard work
and talent of the students, with
the support of our fantastic
teachers, has led to wonderful

grades. Whilst I am so impressed
by the exceptional individual
achievements of those with
perfect A/A*s, we are very
proud of all our students and
especially those who have made
significant amounts of progress
over the last two academic years.
For example, Hania Rasool and
Rahma Duale smashed their
target grades, both achieving
A*BB.”
Other achievements include
Emilie Farrow (A*AB and
B in the Extended Project
Qualification), who will read Fine
Art at De Montfort University;
Mawadah Mohammed Odeh
(A*AB), who will read Law at
Bristol; Hanna Paul (A*AB) who
will read Architecture at UWE;
Monika Sandhu (AAA), who
will read Forensic Computing
and Security at UWE; Jodie
Miller (AAB) will read Russian
with Czech at the University of
Sheffield.
Jodie said: “Colston’s Girls’
has set me up for life. I’m
going to miss everything about
the school after seven years!
The Languages Department
is fantastic - Miss Phillips has
inspired me and made me so
excited and optimistic about the
future.”

WHOLE SCHOOL
OPEN MORNING
SATURDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER 2017
9.30AM-12.00PM
Academic, Art, Drama, Music and
Sport scholarship opportunities
Bursaries available

Senior School and Sixth Form Open Evening:
Thursday 21st September 2017
Whole School Open Morning:
Saturday 14th October 2017

Citywide celebration
of exam successes
THOUSANDS of Bristol students
collected their A-level results on
August 17 after having studied
for two years in preparation.
This is the first year of results
for the new A-level qualifications,
which means that AS levels no
longer count towards the final
grade and assessment is mainly
by exam.
The content of the exams has
also been refreshed, with greater
input from universities. The
grading standards and scale of
A*- E remains the same.
The provisional results show a
strong performance from Bristol
schools with 96 per cent of
students achieving at least three
A-levels at grade A*- E.
Some key successes this
year include St Bede’s Catholic
College, which saw all its pupils
achieve at least three A-level
grades A*- E.
St Mary Redcliffe and Temple
School saw 32 per cent of
students getting the very highest
grades of A*- A, which is a rise
of five percentage points on last
year. Nine students from the
school are heading to Oxford
and Cambridge universities
and 45 pupils achieved three
A*- A grades or better. Bristol
Cathedral Choir School is also
celebrating as a third of all
results were A* or A grades, 65
per centA*- B, 82 per cent A*- C
and 100 per cent A*-E.
At City of Bristol College 85

per cent achieved at least three
A-levels grade A*- E.
Lee Probert, Principal and
Chief Executive said: "These
results, combined with our
recently improved Ofsted grade,
reflect the general positive
direction of travel for the college.
Everyone at the college is
very proud of this achievement.
Each year we continue to equip
students with the skills they need
to successfully progress on to
further study or to launch their
intended career.
"We are extremely proud
of each of our students and I
wish them every success for the
future."
St Brendan’s College saw 97
per cent of students pass. Mr
Jaffrain said: “I am thrilled with
how our teachers and students
have handled the dramatic
change to the more rigorous
linear style.”
Councillor Claire Hiscott,
Bristol's Cabinet Member for
Education, added: “Collecting
your A-level results can be
a nerve wracking time, and
the first year of changes to
exams is always challenging.
It’s important to celebrate the
success of students today, but to
those who haven’t done as well
as they’d hoped I would say that
there is support available. It’s
helpful to keep an open mind and
talk to your teachers about the
different options available.”

Redmaids’ High sees Five go to Oxbridge!
REDMAIDS’ High School is
celebrating the success of its
Year 13 students’ A Level and
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Diploma results including a total
of five girls who are heading off
to Oxford or Cambridge.
Lily Bickers who gained three
A*s and an A, and Isla Waring
who gained 43 points in the IB
Diploma are off to Cambridge.
Starting at Oxford are Romilly
Leech, also an IB student with 38
points, and Georgia Watts and
Tilly Guthrie who gained three
A*s, and an A*AA respectively at
A Level.
Tilly, who will be reading
history at Oxford, says she owes
her place to her teachers: “The
support I’ve received couldn’t
have been any better. I don’t
think I would have made it
without their belief in me.”
Aisha Adelopo, who earned
an A*and two As, securing
her place at the University of
Liverpool to study Medicine
echoed Tilly’s sentiments.
“The teachers give you some

serious tough love! When I felt
like giving up or didn’t think I
could do it, they never stopped
telling me that I could. Their
encouragement and support goes
above and beyond.”
As well as these successes,
Redmaids’ High is celebrating
students going off to study a
diverse range of subjects at top
UK and overseas universities,

starting the next exciting chapter
in their lives.
Christie-Carol Beauchamp,
A*AAB is going to LSE to study
economics
Georgia Scott who got straight
A*s is going to Manchester
to study philosophy and
criminology
Lily Huang who got A*BB
is starting a film practice

course at the University of Arts
LondonRosanna Boxall, ABB, is
heading to Birmingham to study
biological sciences
Isabella Harrison-Wan got
A*AA to secure her place at the
University of Bath studying
psychology
Eleni Psarros is reading
geography at Edinburgh after
gaining 37 points in the IB
The school is also delighted
for Ellie Wallace, who achieved
A*AA. She continues her higher
education at the University of
San Francisco where she has
been awarded a full Athletics
Scholarship, and has plans to
study Marketing.
Headmistress, Isabel Tobias
said: “I am delighted for our girls
who have done tremendously
well today. It is testament to
their individual hard work
and the wonderful, supportive
relationships with their teachers,
who have been equally excited to
see them opening their envelopes
this morning.”

WHO

LE S

OPECHOOL
MOR N
NI
SAT
7 OC NG
10
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What are you
doing today?

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08.17.108

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For more information or to arrange a visit, call 0117 930 3068 or visit www.qehbristol.co.uk
To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk. Got news? Email: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

bishopstonvoice

22

September, 2017

n EDUCATION

A school that really Double delight with
knows its children Daisychain nurseries

WE pride ourselves here at
Torwood House School in knowing
every child personally therefore no
child is ever unnoticed or invisible.
Every child’s aspirations are wholeheartedly supported, whatever
direction they wish to take.
Our Independent School’s
Association (ISA) Junior and Prep
School Award for Excellence and
Innovation clearly demonstrates
our passion for our children’s
learning and our commitment
to providing a cutting edge
curriculum.
Our award winning education
coupled with a nurturing
environment means each child
receives a tailored teaching style to
suit them, allowing them to truly
flourish. Our pupils learn a modern
foreign language, which gives
pupils a wider world view and
an appreciation of cultures other
than English at an earlier age than

many. Other provision includes,
unlike many other schools, weekly
swimming lessons and Forest
School for Reception children,
which sees them exploring the
natural world in nearby woodland.
Clearly, our children are at the
heart of everything we do!
Why not come and meet our
children, our greatest ambassadors!
Open Morning Event is being
held on Friday October 6 from
9.30 am until noon. We offer
primary education for boys and
girls between the ages of 4 -11
years and are based in Redland.

DAISYCHAIN nurseries are proud
to have two vibrant, safe and
happy environments to offer in
Westbury Park and Clifton Village.
We are fortunate to be based in
beautiful settings close to the
Downs. Both of our nurseries
have newly renovated play areas
which allows babies, toddlers and
children’s imaginations to run wild!
We pride ourselves on being
able to offer age appropriate
activities and our children are
actively encouraged to express
themselves. Self-initiated play,
messy play, forest school and
trips ensure that your child will
experience a varied and fun-filled
day.
We offer wrap-around care
from 7.30 am until 5.50 pm every
day, a balanced diet as well as
a stimulating day for your little
ones! We offer childcare for
babies, toddlers and children aged
between 0 – 5 years.

As you well know it is important
to choose the right nursery for your
child, if you would like to find out
more about our nurseries please
do call or email us to arrange a
visit or further information. We
can be reached on 0117 970 6808 /
admin@daisychainnursery.co.uk

Open Morning Event at
Torwood House School, Redland.
Where no child is invisible.

Impressive performances from BGS students
STUDENTS at Bristol Grammar
School are celebrating another
impressive set of A-level results
across the board.
Sixty per cent of all grades
were awarded A*–As, including
those achieving distinctions in
their Pre-U English Literature,
with 26 per cent of these grades
being A*s. Fifty six students –
the same number as last year
– achieved three or more A*/A
grades.
Sixty six students achieved
at least one A* grade, with 17
of them gaining three or more
A*s. Eighty three per cent of all
grades were A*–B, with a 100 per
cent success rate of A*–B in ten
courses: creative writing, design
& technology: systems & control,
drama & theatre studies, French,
German, Greek, Latin, music,
philosophy, and Russian.
Other highlights include
67 per cent of all mathematics
grades at A/A* while English
Literature students excelled at

the demanding Pre-U course,
with 77% achieving the top
Distinction grades, D1 to D3,
equivalent to A* and A grades.
Seventy five per cent of all
Science grades were A*/As.
BGS headmaster Roderick
MacKinnon said: “These results
are a tremendous credit to the
hard work of our students and
staff. Our Upper Sixth have dealt
with the rigorous new linear
curriculum very well, while
taking advantage of the full
breadth of subjects and activities
offered at BGS, including our
A- level and Pre-U courses, the
Duke of Edinburgh Award, and
Extended Project Qualification.”
EPQ results were also
extremely strong with 100 per
cent being awarded A*–B grades,
and 77 per cent of these being
A*–A.
Director of Sixth Form Justin
Harford said: “I am delighted
with this fantastic set of results.
Our students are moving on

National top ten of
non-selective state schools for
proportion of students taking up
places at Oxford and Cambridge
(Sutton Trust’s Degrees of Success Report)

to study an exciting range of
courses at universities across
the UK and beyond. It comes
down to the students making the
right choices for their futures,
coupled with the support of our
careers department, tutors and
dedicated teaching staff, who
have inspired them into choosing
the right subjects.”
Alex Conway joined BGS
Sixth Form in 2015 from St
Bede’s Catholic College on a
scholarship and was delighted to
achieve maths A, chemistry A*,
physics A*, biology A*.
“I am really pleased with my
results, and am now heading to
Imperial College London to study
medicine, which I am looking
forward to. I am not sure what I
want to specialise in yet, but will
see what happens,” he said.
Talented mathematician,
Elise Evans is going to study
physics at Exeter University after
achieving A*s in maths, further
maths and physics, and an A in

chemistry.
Elise said: “My plan
afterwards is to research into
astrophysics. I have really
enjoyed the environment at
BGS: it is such a lovely place and
everyone is supportive.”

COLSTON’S students have
again done very well in their
Sixth Form studies and have
secured impressive A-level
and BTEC results.
Thirty eight per cent of
grades were A*/A and 71 per
cent A*/B. Twenty two per
cent of students achieved
AAA or better and 42 per cent
ABB or better.
The majority of Colston’s
students have secured places
on their first or second choice
university courses . The
school says that, importantly,
through the innovative
Future Leaders employability
programme and via their
study for Extended Project
Qualifications, the young
people will be in strong
positions to make the most of
their next steps.

A number of highperforming students have
decided to follow higher
level apprenticeships and
the school is delighted that
Colstonians will be joining
Rolls-Royce, Dyson and
Grant Thornton.
Jeremy McCullough,
headmaster, said: “While
it is inevitable that some
of the headlines will be
grabbed by the very high
scoring candidates, we
take great pleasure in each
student’s grades being the
best that they can be for
that individual. It is also
very important to us that
these young people will
have learned so much more
at school than how to pass
exams. We wish them all the
very best for the future.”

WHY

ALMOST two-thirds of this
year’s A-level students at Bristol
Technology and Engineering
Academy achieved passes of A*-C
with 30 per cent at A* or A.
Based in Stoke Gifford, BTE
Academy is one of the UK’s
University Technical Colleges
(UTCs), which focus on the socalled STEM subjects (Science,
Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics).
Over half of all A-level grades
at BTE Academy in maths/
further maths were at A* or A
while 76 per cent of grades in
maths and science were A*-C,
with a 100 per cent pass rate.
Engineering grades were
excellent too with 76% at
Distinction* or Distinction, with
14 students achieving maximum
marks across all units.

Rhian Priest, Principal at BTE
Academy, said: “I am incredibly
proud of our Year 13 students,
many of whom are among our
first four-year cohort. There
are some wonderful individual
successes which are richly
deserved.
“Every single university
applicant has gained their first
choice place, with a significant
number taking up their first
choice apprenticeship. This
group of young people and
their teachers are the most
conscientious and talented I have
ever had the privilege to work
with.”
Meanwhile many of BTE
Academy’s Year 13 cohort
are taking the apprenticeship
route, training at Renishaw and
Universal Balancing.

PLUS: Open
mornings on
Sep 28th,
Oct 3rd, 10th
and 12th
... and by
appointment

Orchard School?

... find out on

October 5th

Open evening
Make a date in your diary
Inspire
today...
empower
for life

n EDUCATION
PUPILS at Queen Elizabeth’s
Hospital (QEH) are celebrating
another set of outstanding
A-level results. In a year which
has seen national grades in the
new linear A-levels fall, QEH
students have bucked the trend
by continuing to achieve the top
grades.
One third of students
achieved straight A*/A grades,
with the top grades making up
over half of all results awarded.
For the 12th year running the
pass rate at the school is 100 per
cent.
This success has extended
right across the curriculum. The
mathematics department has
much to celebrate – nearly threequarters of all grades awarded
were A*/A grades – while 100
per cent of students studying art
and music achieved the very top
grade of A*.
Stephen Holliday, headmaster
at QEH, says: “I am delighted
to see our students celebrating.
These superb results highlight
the quality of education provided
at QEH, putting students on
a sound footing for higher
education and successful future
careers.

Outstanding! Lads at QEH
notch up some top grades
“In September we look
forward to opening the doors
of our Sixth Form to girls for
the first time and allowing girls
to also benefit from a first class
QEH education.”
All Oxbridge students
successfully achieved the
required grades to take up their
places in September. Lukha
Aggarwal, who is celebrating
straight A* grades in maths,
economics and geography,
will take up his place studying
economics at St Catharine’s
College, Cambridge University.
Andreas Richardson will be
beginning his degree course in
chemical engineering at Imperial
College London next term,
having achieved straight 4 A*s
in chemistry, maths, further
maths and advanced physics
(engineering).
Joe White is also celebrating
straight A* grades. Joe, who

joined the school in Year 12, was
awarded an Ogden Scholarship
and was supported through the

Sixth Form by the Ogden Trust
and the generous support of
former pupils of the school.

n EDUCATION
BRISTOL Steiner School is
opening its doors in September
2017 as a newly rejuvenated
Kindergarten and Primary
School.
School trustee Daniel Black
said: “We are focusing on the
school’s exceptional strengths
in nurturing children from three
to 11 years old. We feel that
the wonderful education and
environment that this school
offers is unique in Bristol and
highly desirable.

bishopstonvoice

September, 2017

Take a look at Steiner School
“The school already has a
fantastic reputation as a highly
supportive community with an
ability to inspire creative thought
and a love of learning. Alongside
this, the school is committed
to enabling children to work
closely with the natural world
and an informed and balanced
application of technology.”
An Open Evening is being
held on September 20 at the
school’s site on Redland Hill,
and will be an opportunity
to meet interim headteacher,
James Wetz. James was head of
Cotham School, the first director
of Human Scale Education, and
is a passionate advocate for
the small schools movement,
an adviser to Government, a
visiting researcher at University
of Bristol as well as a trustee of
Colston Hall.
Keen to demystify Steiner
education, at a meeting in June
James described the benefits of
this system: “For mainstream
schools it’s about hitting targets,

getting from A to B. But what
about personal development
and personal care of the child?
Steiner brings a sense of
community to children where
children can be known, and well
known.”
Alongside a comprehensive
review of the school’s
governance, led by Mr Wetz,
the school are refurbishing and
upgrading of the Grade II Listed
manor house with its spectacular
and inspiring garden and

views over the city at the top of
Whiteladies Road on the Downs.
Daniel Black added: “We
very much look forward to
seeing prospective parents and
interested others at our open
evening or hearing from them.
“If any parents are interested,
please get in touch with James
directly at: jameswetz3@gmail.
com. We look forward to seeing
you there or hearing from you
soon so we can share our exciting
plans for the future.”

OPEN EVENING
20th September, 7.30pm

Main School, Redland Hill House

Hear from our new Head, James Wetz,
former Headmaster of Cotham School,
first Director of Human Scale Education,
and passionate advocate of small schools.

Clifton College students
'prepare for next chapter'
CLIFTON College celebrated its A Level results with 31 students
scoring only A* and A grades.
In total, 76 per cent of grades were A* to B and 48 per cent were A*
to A with subjects like economics, languages and mathematics seeing
some of the highest grades.
In languages and classics 95 per cent of grades were A* to B while
in both economics and history 88 per cent of grades were A* to B.
Half of students studying mathematics and further mathematics
were awarded double A* while over a quarter of all psychology
students also received A*s.
Eighty five per cent of students have won a place at their chosen
university, including places at two American universities (Duke and
Boston), Oxford, Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Music.
Head of College Dr Tim Greene said: “We are really proud of our
students, and what they have achieved, across all areas of college life,
through their hard work and commitment over the past few years.
They have become exceptional young adults.
“It is fantastic to see our students prepare for the next chapter after
their time with us, some of whom started at Clifton College in the PrePrep or Preparatory School.
“We wish them all the very best for the future and hope we will be
hearing lots more about their further successes in years to come.”

French Club
Learning French through games,
songs, role-play, silliness.
New
classes
Autumn
2017

Discover your future
Could you see yourself as a scientist or biomedical engineer?
Perhaps an applied scientist, engineer or forensic analyst?
Bristol Technology and Engineering Academy enables you to study BTEC qualifications or
A-Levels across science, technology, maths and engineering in the sixth form or a range of
specialist science, engineering and technology courses alongside core GCSEs in Year 10.
Book a visit during the school day or secure a place on one of our Open Evenings which start at 6.30pm to
find out more about BTE Academy. Apply now for a place in Year 10 or Year 12 for September 2018.

52%

of all Maths/Further Maths
A-Level grades at A* or A

76%

of grades in Maths and
Science A-Level at A* to C

77%

of Engineering grades at
Distinction* or Distinction

100%

progression to University
or apprenticeship

Open Evenings 6.30pm
Thursday 28th September
Thursday 12th October
Thursday 23rd November

Book now on 0117 983 8080
Supported by:

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ervice
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Call 0117 983 8080 to book a place at an Open Evening now
BTE Academy, New Road, Stoke Gifford, Bristol BS34 8SF â&#x20AC;˘ www.bteacademy.co.uk â&#x20AC;˘ admissions@bteacademy.co.uk

September, 2017

bishopstonvoice

29

n EDUCATION
STAFF and pupils at The
Dolphin School in Montpelier are
looking forward to pioneering a
Bristol-based curriculum in the
new academic year.
The school has chosen to
follow Curious-city, which
actively links learning to the
rich heritage and cultural
opportunities available in the
city and is designed to encourage
curiosity and creativity in
primary school children.
Head teacher Shelley
Dixon said: “Our new school
building has provided us with a
launchpad for our exciting new
curriculum Curious-city which
fits perfectly with the ethos and
values of our school.”
The curriculum is enquiryled and children are encouraged
to interact with the local
community and with visitors,
such as Michael Goreley from
Historic England, who took the
children on a walk to find out
about the rich history in the area
around the school.
Baraawi Marsal in Year 4
said: “From the roof garden
we can see so much of Bristol,
and then we head out with our

Bristol inspires curriculum for
children at The Dolphin School

The roof garden at
The Dolphin School
is a great setting
for enquiry-based
learning
teacher to explore for ourselves.”
The Dolphin School moved
into its new school building on
Bath Buildings road, in May.

The school community is now
enjoying the modern architecture
and superb facilities, which are
spread over three floors with 14

Golden Hill Garden's all set for harvest
AUTUMN seems to have come
early this year and although it
brought with it the rain, it also
brought an early harvest of
delicious fruit and vegetables
grown by the volunteers at
Golden Hill Community Garden.
To celebrate the coming of
autumn the garden will host its
annual Harvest Fair Saturday
September 9 from 1-4pm. This
is a fabulous local community
event with traditional fair games,
free family activities, treasure
hunts, pond dipping, music and
pizza from a frog clay oven!
This year, with the support of
Barcan+Kirby, organisers aim to
make the event as accessible as
possible to people and families
with disabilities or special
educational needs; this will
include a sensory trail and play
area for children.
Another exciting development
in the garden this month is that
it intends to open to the public
on Sundays, from September 10,
and then fortnightly. Sessions
will run from 10am until noon.

Pete Clee, from the garden,
said: "We are hoping that this
will encourage volunteers
who are unable to come to our
Wednesday sessions because of

STOP

It only takes a moment

RELAX

When you relax you’re in control, when you
relax you see things clearly and you can do
the things you really want to do

CHANGE

The way you think, feel, react and behave:
Explore your Parallel Universe
You already have unlimited resources at
your disposal. Your brain is the most
powerful, complex, adaptable and
incredible piece of kit known to human
kind. Inﬁnitely more gigabytes than
Google, more data storage than all the
clouds combined. Using trance (a very
normal but deeper form of consciousness) we can navigate your personal
universe to access the solutions that are
right practicable for you in the context
of your reality, your life.. All you’ve have
do is relax and let it happen. At the least
it’s a relaxing break from the toxic
levels of stress we’re all subjected to. At
best it’s the beginning of a new way of
life, a new understanding of the real you
and a realization of your potential as a
human being.

work. They will be able to take
advantage of the opportunity to
have fun in the sun, which always
shines on us!
“Come and enjoy our award
winning garden, and see how we
have developed over six years of
growing success. We welcome
everybody, however able, and are
specially proud of our wheelchair
accessibility."
The garden can be found in
Bishopston, just through the
gates at the end of Monk Rd,
behind Bishop Road School and
Horfield Prison.
Further information can
be found on the website
thegoldenhillcommunitygarden.
com

n NEWS
In Bishopston this month...
Clean Air Zone Plans
A preliminary report has been
released on the feasibility study
into a Clean Air Zone for Bristol.
Two of the four possibilities
being taken forward could
have the Zone include parts of
Bishopston & Ashley Down. Both
of us have campaigned on the
issue of air quality and we are
very excited to see the progress
made so far. On a related note,
the city’s first double decker
Biogas Bus was launched in
August – hopefully the first of
many!
Community Partnership
The new Bishopston, Cotham and
Redland Community Partnership
is looking for volunteers. Do you
have experience of community
engagement? Are you skilled
at graphic design and website
building? Or maybe you just have
some time you want to spend
helping the local area. Whatever
you can offer, we would be happy
to have you involved – you can

either get in touch with one of us
or find out more on the website:
http://www.bcrnp.org.uk/
Community SpeedWatch
Is speeding traffic making
your street a dangerous and
unpleasant place? Community
SpeedWatch could be a solution
to tackle this. Using volunteers
to monitor speeds and report
them to the Police gives your
local Police the evidence they
need to allocate their resources
to address this anti-social
behaviour. Volunteers are needed
for new Community SpeedWatch
in our area. If you are interested
in helping out please get in touch
with us. Here’s the link to further
information about the scheme:
www.avonandsomerset.police.
uk/csw
Council Tax Reduction
Consultation
The council is consulting on its
Council Tax Reduction scheme.

This is a discount provided to
support low income households
with the cost of their council
tax. The consultation proposes
changes to this and offers some
options. You can find out more
and take part here: www.bristol.
gov.uk/counciltaxreduction
Muller Road Recreation
Ground
Just outside our ward, there
is work on Muller Road Rec to
improve the changing facilities
and the top field playing surface
so that pupils at Fairfield High
School can use the field for sport.
This will hopefully result in a
better facility for all users, and
the school assure us they plan to
protect community access to the
fields; however while the works
are ongoing the Muller Road gate
will be closed and the upper field
fenced off. There is still access
via Downend Park or Dovercourt
Road to the lower field, which is
unaffected. More details of the

works programme are available
on the school’s website: https://
tinyurl.com/MullerRdRec
Memorial Stadium
As you may have seen in the
news, the deal between Bristol
Rovers and UWE to build a new
stadium at the latter’s Frenchay
Campus has fallen through.
Rovers have now said that they
will be seeking to regenerate
the Memorial Stadium. What
this means for local residents,
businesses and fans is not yet
known. We will be sure to keep
you informed in this column of
any developments.

n NEWS
In Cotham this month...
Summer thoughts...
It’s been council business as
usual over the summer to catch
up many weeks lost during the
recent elections – but there is
little good news apart from a
few snippets, e.g. we have forced
some realism over maintaining
our street trees and tackling
Bristol’s air quality.
Long overdue minor
variations to CN RPZ are
finishing and I have completed
my sixth meeting on more
serious changes to KN and CM
where I have won the battle for
proper consultation. The BigGive, student moving-out waste
collection produced 101 tonnes,
saving landfill and raising up to
£177,100 for charity, up from last
year. The Harbour festival and
Balloon fiesta were great – but
are up against raised charges
from BCC.
But, politics is driving
the proposed closure of more
libraries than needed and
crushing the Neighbourhood
Partnerships that have been
such a locally-run force for good,
particularly for our area. This
is going to be a period, short I
hope, when our lives are going to

be run from the centre just when
organised local groups might
have been more able or willing to
raise funds for communities. We
will have fewer public buildings
and little venue-hiring allowance
for local forums.
I have been developing some
Cotham-trialled initiatives such
as a contact service between
supermarkets and collectors of
leftover food and a community
improvement project (more
later) to bind together agencies
and all residents. Also, I would
love to hear from anyone in this
area who is willing to, or already
helping with supporting people
of all ages who feel isolated.
Please don’t forget to
respond before 5th September
to the consultation on cuts
to libraries, neighbourhood
partnerships, school crossings
and public conveniences at:
www.bristol.gov.uk/councilspending-performance/
your-neighbourhoodconsultation-2017 (paper copies
available at libraries).
Cllr. Anthony Negus
cllr.anthony.negus@bristol.
gov.uk /07833 484344

Congratulations to the
community weeding folks
Deemed as probably causing
cancer by the World Health
Organisation and thus banned
in many countries, the non use
of glyphosate trial continues in
Cotham and as a result there has
been a noticeable increase in
weed growth on the highways.
Although the trial commenced
before Bristol Waste were
contracted, weed management
is their responsibility. Bristol
Waste intends to use Pelargonic
Acid but have yet to be granted
the licence so in the meantime
they are digging out weeds
by hand, which is far more
time consuming - so please
bear with them as they make
their way around the ward.
Many community teams and
individuals have organised action
days to take the weeds into their
own hands and clear overgrown
areas.
Whilst I understand that
this won't be possible for many
people and that we would
normally expect this service to be

September, 2017

delivered under our council tax
payments, I think this proactive
and self determined citizens
approach is to be applauded.
There is also an increase
in epicormic growth which is
where tree foliage grows out
towards the base of the tree
particularly from trees that have
been copped. Such trees may be
blocking pavements. BCC will
come and cut these back if there
is a health and safety risk.
Please report this via 'fix my
street' on the BCC website which
is a good way of adding pictures
which helps getthings done.
https://www.fixmystreet.com/
reports/Bristol.

n NEWS
In Redland this month...
Current consultations
Several important consultations
are currently under way so please
do take part if you can. The
Council is asking for input into
its reviews of services in your
neighbourhoods (eg libraries)
with a deadline of September 5th.
We're encouraging everyone
to respond as soon as possible to
a set of up to five consultations
covering cuts and changes to vital
local services.
Please read and respond to
any or all of the documents,
either on paper or on line.
Remember that there’s no need
to make a choice of the ‘options’
that are presented – any tick
for one of these will be taken as
support, whereas putting your
own written comments in the
text boxes available allow you to
say ‘none of the above’ or that
you’d rather see things done
differently. On paper the boxes
are small, but online you can add
as much as you want, making
alternative proposals.
The council is open to
suggestions for rethinking

services despite only offering a
few specific choices, for fewer
libraries or fewer school crossing
patrols. We’d rather the options
do not encourage areas to be
played off against each other to
save their local facilities.
There is also a review into
Council tax benefit taking place
which would see a reduction in
the benefit available to some
residents. The deadline for this is
September 26th and details are
here: https://bristol.citizenspace.
com/neighbourhoods/
council-tax-reduction-schemefor-2018-19/
Public toilets
We are disappointed to see that
the council decided to pull the
plug on completing our new
local toilet facilities in the Baths
complex on Gloucester Rd.
A consultation is under way
right now about the future of
all council run toilets that front
on to streets (not ones within
parks for now). If you have views
on this make sure you read and
respond to the consultation that

covers this (see above). There are
however toilets available inside
the library, although obviously
only during opening hours.
Students, fly-tipping, and
waste
The end of term was, as usual,
marked with a surge of flytipping
around the city where students
vacated their houses. We’re
probably all familiar with the
heaps of rubbish left behind in
gardens and streets. While this
may be from students themselves
some is undoubtedly deposited
by landlords or agents – who
may have kept the forfeited
deposits for non cleaning of the
house but then failed to make
legal arrangements to remove
the waste. Other waste is from
refurbishment which they then
undertake.
Fi is asking officers to look
into how we can try to learn
from the practice of some
other councils in increasing
enforcement on rogue landlords.
Ready for the new term the
BCR community partnership

have guidance for student houses
to make sure they know about
the days and ways recycling
and waste are dealt with here.
Contact info@bcrnp.org.uk
asking for student house waste
leaflets if you can deliver helpful
information to students moving
in near you.
New community partnership
and Library – get involved
Please get in touch with our
temporary steering group to
offer help the new Community
Partnership get going. There are
lots of ways to help with practical
arrangements, projects and
publicity. Please contact info@
bcrnp.org.uk
Don’t forget to get involved
in the new Friends of Bishopston
Library as well!
Martin Fodor
cllrmartin.fodor@bristol.
gov.uk
07884736101
Fi Hance
cllr.fi.hance@bristol.gov.uk
0117 3534720

n NEWS
In St Andrews this month...
WE hope you’ve been able
to have a relaxing and
enjoyable summer, despite the
unpredictable weather.
Recently councillors were
briefed on the Council’s
‘Medium-Term Financial
Plan’, and it demonstrated
the continuing challenges the
authority is facing in delivering
services and balancing its budget
within a shrinking financial
envelope.
The council is having to look
at a wide range of options to
reduce expenditure, and one
area it is currently consulting
on concerns the Council Tax
Reduction Scheme. This is a
discount scheme that supports
low income households with
the cost of their council tax.
Bristol is one of a very small
number of local authorities that
have continued to offer a full
discount to some households.
The consultation presents
options for introducing a
‘minimum payment’, which
would mean that all working-age
households would have to make
a contribution (for example

of 25%) toward their council
tax liability. The consultation
closes on 24 September and
you can share your views by
visiting www.bristol.gov.uk/
counciltaxreduction
However, even with all the
savings proposals and incomegeneration measures that
have been announced and are
planned, Bristol may still be on
course for a financial deficit. The
government needs to understand
that not only has it placed
councils in extremely difficult
positions, having to make cuts
that cause hardship for many
people, but that these cuts are
damaging the country’s economy
more widely.
Bristol has teamed up
with the other Core Cities
(Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow,
Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester,
Newcastle, Nottingham and
Sheffield) to deliver a ‘Green
Paper’ to the government this
month arguing that our major
cities – which account for 26.5%
of the UK economy – need
investment not cuts, and greater
autonomy over their affairs.

This will help to stimulate
growth that will benefit the
whole UK economy. We hope
the government will listen and
be responsive to these concerns,
particularly as we move into a
period of economic uncertainty
brought about by Brexit.
The application for a student
accommodation development
at 147-149 Gloucester Road
(above and behind the Peacocks
store) has now been submitted,
and you can look at the plans
by searching for application
reference 17/03949/F. The
proposal involves 58 bedrooms,
and Cllr Davies will be meeting
with the planning officer
assigned to this case to discuss
objections raised by local
residents.
More widely, applications
like this will become more
commonplace in Bristol as the
two universities engage in a
significant expansion in student
numbers. This is causing concern
in terms of the effect this stands
to have on the character and
amenity of neighbourhoods,
demand for housing in the city,

and the provision of council
services (since students are
exempt from paying council
tax). At the last Full Council
meeting there was cross-party
support for investigating
approaches to addressing these
impacts, engaging with central
government and working with
the two universities.
We are now into the busy
autumn period but we are still
always available to deal with
any issues you would like to
raise. If you’d like to speak to
us in person we are continuing
to run our surgeries on the first
Friday of the month, 1-2pm, in
the library at St Paul's Learning
Centre (94 Grosvenor Rd, BS2
8XJ).
Mike Davies,
cllr.mike.davies@bristol.gov.uk
07584 370 413
Jude English
cllr.jude.english@bristol.gov.uk
07584 151 099
Carole Johnson
cllr.carole.johnson@bristol.gov.uk
07584 370 414

STEAMED UP
DOUBLE GLAZING?
Don’t replace the Frames... just the Panes!

Bishopston, Cotham and
Redland Community
Partnership seeks help
COULD you spare a few hours once a month to help run a local
community partnership?
The newly formed Bishopston, Cotham and Redland
Community Partnership (BCRCP) is seeking a volunteer treasurer
who will help manage the community led partnership which has
funds of less than £7,000.
Alison Bromilow, from BCRNP, said: “We rely on volunteers
who are passionate about making our area an even better place
to live and this role will offer you the opportunity to meet those
people, and new ones, share a common purpose and make a
difference.
“With such a limited amount of money, we don’t envisage this
role being too onerous but the person will be responsible for the
normal treasury type activities of managing the partnership’s
money and keeping accounts of expenditure and income. As well
as contributing to discussions and reporting to the Committee to
help us make informed decisions about our financial situation.”
If you think you can support BCRNP in anyway then they
would love to hear from you at info@bcrnp.org.uk
See our website here www.bcrcp.org.uk

May Fair Makers
THE organisers of the Redland May Fair are looking for people to join
their pool of volunteers and be part of making this fun-filled, family
event happen.
Would you enjoy helping to organise the stalls? Are you a foodie
with or without catering experience? Are you good with spreadsheets
and admin? Are you practical and good at thinking on your feet?
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes” then email
mayfairinfo@rcas.org.uk to say hello and find out more.
The May Fair is a free, not-for-profit community event run by
volunteers on behalf of the Redland & Cotham Amenities Society.
Getting involved is a great way to build on strengths, learn new skills
and be part of making the May Fair happen.
Abigail Shepherd, one of the organisers, said: "You get involved
with planning the May Fair and pulling it all together then on the day
it takes on a life of its own!
“There's only a small group of organisers but it means you learn
about running an event from every angle - all you need is to love the
May Fair, get hands-on and help out."

Last few days to have your say
TO take part in the Your Neighbourhood and Supporting People
consultations you can do so online at www.bristol.gov.uk/
YourNeighbourhood or paper copies are available at your local library.
Your views are sought on future funding for libraries, public toilets,
school crossing patrols, Community links and Adult Day centres.
The survey remains open until Tuesday September 5

Bikes ‘n’ Backs
HOW can you ensure that cycling is not only healthy for your back, but will
also train your core and torso muscles to engage better, retain length in
your hamstrings, and lighten pressure on your hands, neck and shoulders?
The racing cyclist below is an example of compromising healthy posture
for performance gain. His tail is tucked under, placing the spine in a flexed
position, over-stretching his back muscles and ligaments and compressing
the front of the discs.
At the neck the
effect is reversed,
compressing the
back of the cervical
spine.
Though he is
crouched like this
for aerodynamic
advantage, even
recreational and
commuter cyclists
often round their
backs simply because
they are used to
sitting in a slumped,
curved position.

This cyclist takes stress off her
spine and maintains an open
front-of-body by sitting more
forward on her sitting bones.
Tilting the saddle down a little
can help keep the pelvis well
positioned and the behind behind.
Unlike rounding over, it invites
the long back muscles to work in
harmony with the core muscles to
maintain the length and strength
of the whole torso.
Pressure on the shoulders,
neck, arms and hands is also
reduced as she no longer rests as
much weight on the handlebars.
Engaging the torso muscles means no twisting shoulder girdle or pelvic
movement dissipating energy that needs to go down to the pedals - far
more efficient.
This is extra effort at first if you are not used to hip-hinging in this way,
but it is the same muscle recruitment you want to use when bending
over for daily tasks such as making a bed, washing at the sink, or picking
something up. Good posture trains you for life, including cycling!
To find out more about how posture can support your activities and
leave back pain behind, come to a free workshop:
Sunday 10th September, 3pm, Spicer+Cole, Gloucester Rd
Sunday 15th October, 3pm, Bakesmiths, Whiteladies Rd
Please book at: www.gokhalemethod.com
Further information: 07982 231317

ONE of the highlights of vet
Nicky Bromhall’s summer
was completing the Bristol to
Bordeaux bike ride.
Nicky took leave from her role
as veterinary surgeon at Animal
Health Centre on Gloucester
Road and joined a team of 68
riders on July 5 that set off
from Temple Quay to cycle to
Bordeaux.
This was the ninth annual
Bristol to Bordeaux ride
organised by PROPS (Providing
Opportunities and Support for
those with Special needs), a
Bristol-based charity raising
money to support learning
disabled adults in Bristol
based at the Vassall Centre in
Fishponds.
There were two ride options,
the ‘Classic' 300-mile route and
the ‘Epic’ 500-mile route. All set
out to cover the distance in four
days: that’s 125 miles a day for
the epic riders. Four students
from The Vassall Centre rode
with the team, together with
a huge entourage of volunteer
support crew and vehicles.
Nicky’s ride flew by as she
explained: “Fabulous company,

bishopstonvoice

37

Bristol to Bordeaux à vélo

stunning scenery, glorious
weather (except for day three
when we got absolutely soaked
for the first 50 miles!) and an
amazing experience.
“The miles whizzed by and
we were in Bordeaux before we
knew it!
“I rode the ‘Epic’ 500 mile
route on my Trek Madone,
Marvin, and loved every minute;

it was a treat to have nothing
else to worry about other than
pedalling as our every need
was catered for by the support
crew, even down to the post-ride
massages!”
All those taking part on the
ride paid their own expenses
so every penny raised in
sponsorship went directly to the
charity. In all, over £80,000 was

raised for PROPS.
For those of you tempted
to join in next year sadly, you
will have to wait until 2019 as
the tenth annual B2B in 2018 is
already full.
More information is available
on the website and donations are
still being accepted. Nicky’s link
is mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/
nickybromhall1

Mukha Virasana
(downward facing hero pose)
Practice time: 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3 minutes.
Benefits: Prepares you for practice.
Stretches out the shoulder joints
and relieves back pain.
Breathe consciously
throughout this pose. Continually
bringing your awareness back to
your breath will help relax your
mind and body even further,
preparing your body for a deep,
renewed state of health and wellbeing.
Here begins a new academic year
of yoga asanas (poses) drawn and
described by the wonderful Bobby

bishopstonvoice

September, 2017

Clennell. These can be practiced
separately (you may need to warm
up) or as a sequence. Watch out for
a new asana every month to help
you practise yoga at home.
You may need to improvise
with the equipment for some
poses, but as yoga props are based
on household items, be inventive
and inspiration will come! If you
have any questions, pop into
Yogawest with this page and ask a
teacher for some help.

the floor in front of you. Allow your
sit bones to nestle down onto your
heels.

1. Kneel on the floor. Touch your
big toes together and sit on your
heels. Separate your knees to the
width your hips. If you are stiff,
widen your knees a little more.
Hook your thumbs into the place
where the top of your thighs
meet the front of the hips. Pull
back through your thumbs and
fold your torso forward over your
thighs.

4. To come up, slide your hands
back toward you and pressing
them into the floor, inhale, and
then swing your torso back up to a
sitting position. Pivot your legs out
to the sides and then extend them
out in front of you.

2. Release your thumbs and
stretching your arms forward oneby-one, extend your torso further
forward and down between your
thighs, the left side of the torso
resting along the inner left thigh
and the right side along the right
inner thigh. Place your hands on

1

3. Rest your forehead on the floor.
Without lifting your hips, walk
your arms even further out in
front of you. Press the index finger
and base of the thumb down.
Lengthen through the fingers.
Draw the upper arm muscles back
back onto your shoulder-blades.

2

3

Drawings and posture text
reproduced by kind permission of
Bobby Clennell, a senior Iyengar
teacher in New York who teaches
biennial workshops at Yogawest.
Several of this year's offerings
are taken from two chapters Bobby
wrote for a new book by Frank
Lipman MD: 10 Reasons You Feel Old
and Get Fat...And How You Can Stay
Young, Slim, and Happy!

Telebuddies: what happened next ...
IT’S a minor brush with fame,
but taking part in Channel 4’s
Old People’s Home for 4 Year
Olds - broadcast at the start
of August - has led to some of
the elderly participants who
captured the hearts of the
nation being greeted warmly by
strangers and staff in Waitrose.
More than 2.2 million
viewers tuned in to watch eleven
St Monica Trust residents
and ten children from Bristol
preschools share daily activities
designed by three experts – a
gerontologist, a geriatrician and
a physiotherapist.
Filming took place over
six weeks at the Trust’s Cote
Lane retirement community
on Durdham Downs when
the older group's physical and
mental progress was measured
and analysed throughout to see
whether bringing the two groups
together would transform the
lives of the older volunteers for
the better.
Mary Evans, aged 86, who
spent many years working with
children who were unable to hear
or speak, said: “I went shopping
in Waitrose and was greeted
with ‘Hello Mary’ by the staff. It
was a bit embarrassing but also
heartening.
“We became very fond of the
children. They arrived hand-inhand, singing and would all jump
in and climb all over us. They
were dear little children and
were ever so excited.
“I could cope with them
because of my teaching
experience plus I’m a great aunt

with a lot of nieces and nephews.
“As an experiment we sat
round on a ring of children’s
balloons. I enjoyed that a lot.
Some of them would find a book
and ask me to read it to them.
“Nelson was very lively and
bright. He organised the other
boys and built a really good
garage out of Lego.”
Retired professor of geology
at Bristol University, David
Dineley, worked all over the
world, including the Arctic,
before moving to St Monica’s
when his wife was in the final
stages of Parkinson’s disease,
five years ago. David said: “The
whole thing was unexpectedly
pleasant. I got to know Hamish
and Michael well and became

good friends with little Eva, who
came to visit yesterday with her
grandma.
“We all found the children
were keen to talk to us. The
TV team were understanding
and sympathetic to our needs
and I was impressed with the
treatment that we received.
“They tended to think that
older people would be depressed
and some were slow to respond
at the beginning.”
The programme saw a
number of improvements in the
residents’ mental and physical
health, including 80-year-old,
Linda whose mobility is affected
by osteoporosis.
Described as “very down”
when she first joined the
experiment, Linda’s friendship
with four-year-old Amiya saw
the two of them running across
the croquet lawn hand-in-hand
during a sports day. Meanwhile,
viewers saw 77-year Zina, whose
tests revealed a high depression
score, laughing with delight as
she hit a Pinata and the children
swooped to collect the sweets
that fall out of the papier-mache
donkey.
David added: “The
experiment was conducted well
and I think if we did this once a
year it would be grand.
“I think something has been
reawakened in us. The young
folks have so much to learn and
explore and it’s great to see the
mystery through their eyes. I’d
like to think that the kids got as
much out of it as we did.”

Lively 88-year-old Hamish
Hall, who lost a leg when he
was aged 14, was doubtful about
the benefits of appearing in the
show, but by the end of the first
episode he was seen lying on the
floor playing dead lions with the
children – much to their delight!
Hamish said: “They all
regarded my artificial leg as part
of me – just Hamish. There he is
– poor old chap who walks with
a stick, doesn’t walk very fast and
hobbles about. However, one is
thankful that one is still healthy
and at all ages one should be
thankful for one’s health.”
Chief executive of the St
Monica Trust, David Williams,
confirmed that they will continue
to nurture the wonderful
relationships established
between residents and the
children of the preschools.
He said: “The St Monica
Trust will create a lasting legacy
to the ground-breaking social
experiment by establishing a
nursery at one of its sites.
“We will also be installing
children’s playgrounds at
all of our sites, including an
indoor play area at our newest
development in Keynsham, the
Chocolate Quarter.
“Seeing the benefits of this
ground breaking project has only
strengthened the Trust’s desire
to create open communities that
actively encourage contact across
different generations.”
Old People’s Home For 4 Year
Olds can still seen on catch up
TV, All 4.

Making a healthy school term start for all
IT’S that time of the year again!
After weeks of summer fun, it’s
time to go back to school - and
your local pharmacy is at hand to
help make a healthy start and also
deal with any health questions and
worries.

What help is available?
Healthy eating; There are lots
of messages around promoting
healthy eating but some can be
confusing. Why not come into
the pharmacy to pick up some
clear information or talk to one
of our friendly health advisers?
Remember a healthy diet, helps
growth and development, reduces
sick days off school but also
improves academic results!
If your child is a picky eater,
we can discuss options to support
them with multivitamins. Kellaway
Pharmacy is proud to support the
Sugar Smart initiative, encouraging
children to swap sugary drinks and
snacks for fruits and yogurts.

Head lice or nits affect one in
three school children and their
families. Nits can survive in long
hair for a long time if untreated.
Performing a head check weekly
especially for young children is a
good idea. Not sure what to look
for? The pharmacy team is able
to advise on the correct comb
detection method.
Threadworms are tiny worms that
you may notice around your child's
bottom or in their poo, particularly
in children under 10. They don't
always cause symptoms although
itchiness around the bottom or
vagina is common.This can be
worse at night and disturb sleep.
Don't panic if you come across
them, we can help!
Small lumps appearing on the skin
of hands or feet could be warts
or verrucas. They tend to affect
children more than adults. They

are caught by close skin-to-skin
contact e.g sharing shoes, socks
and towels. The infection can also
be caught from contaminated
objects or surfaces, such as the
area surrounding a swimming
pool.
Kellaway Pharmacy offers help
diagnosing all of these conditions
correctly, alongside providing
scientifically proven cost effective
treatment options suitable for the
whole family.
Don't forget to also check
with your GP surgery that your
children's vaccinations are up-todate.
For the rest of the family, as part
of our commitment to promoting
healthy living and well being, this
September we are starting our
FREE walk-in NHS Flu vaccinations.
No appointments required.
In addition, FREE blood
pressure checks are available as
part of the ''Know Your Numbers "
month.